TDA passionate and urgent message has been issued by a group simply identified as “CMU” to all true-born South Easterners of voting age, calling on them to unite behind a South Eastern candidate in the 2027 presidential election.
The appeal insists that failing to support a South Easterner at this critical juncture would amount to “willing slavery without honour and dignity.”
The Call for Honour and Dignity
The message underscores that Nigeria’s presidency rotates between geopolitical zones, not ethnic groups, and by this principle, it is the rightful turn of the South East to produce Nigeria’s president between 2023 and 2031.
“In 2023, President Tinubu declared Emilokan — it is my turn — and with the support of his party, APC, seized what should have been the right of South Easterners.
“Since then, insecurity, corruption, poverty, and impunity have worsened,” the statement declared.
South Easterners are urged to be at the forefront of reclaiming their right, supported by Nigerians who believe in equity, justice, merit, and stability.
Background: The Rotation Principle
Since 1999, Nigeria’s presidency has rotated among the six geopolitical zones:
- South West: 12 years (Obasanjo, Tinubu)
- North West: 11 years (Yaradua, Buhari)
- South South: 5 years (Jonathan)
- South East: 0 years
- North Central: 0 years
- North East: 0 years
Advocates argue that 2027 is the moment to correct this imbalance.
Despite its immense contributions to Nigeria’s political evolution, the South East has never produced a president.
This exclusion, many argue, has deepened feelings of marginalization and weakened national unity.
Peter Obi as the Symbol of Equity
In 2023, Mr. Peter Obi emerged as the only South Eastern candidate from a national party, garnering massive support across Nigeria from those who believed in equity and justice.
His candidacy symbolized hope for a fairer Nigeria.
The message calls on South Easterners to immediately register with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), positioning Obi as the viable candidate for 2027.
Obi has pledged to serve only four years if elected, to preserve the North/South rotation principle and ensure fairness to other zones.
This pledge is seen as a rare act of political integrity in Nigeria’s history.
Suggested Immediate Next Steps
- Mass Registration: South Easterners and their families should join ADC to strengthen Obi’s candidacy.
- National Outreach: Mobilize support from South South, North Central, and North East voters to uphold the rotation principle.
- Principled Resistance: If ADC fails to field a South Eastern candidate, South Easterners should sit out the 2027 election and focus on governance in their region.
These steps are framed as both practical and moral imperatives, ensuring that the South East does not once again miss its rightful turn.
A Warning Against Slavery
The message draws on history, recalling how Igbo captives once chose death over slavery during the transatlantic slave trade.
“We should never accept to be willing slaves in Nigeria.
“Any person or party telling South Easterners to forfeit their right when it is rightfully their turn does not mean well for us,” it declared.
This historical reminder is meant to inspire courage and unity, urging South Easterners to choose freedom over submission.
It is a call to honour the sacrifices of ancestors and to ensure that future generations inherit dignity, not defeat.
Conclusion
The call ends with a passionate reminder:
“A life without honour and dignity is not a life worth living. Let us choose freedom over slavery, for our children and for the stability of Nigeria.”
The 2027 election is framed not just as a political contest, but as a defining moment for the South East.
It is a test of whether they will stand for their rightful place in Nigeria’s leadership or be consigned to the margins of history.
This is more than politics; it is about justice, identity, and the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
The South East must rise, not only for itself but for the stability and fairness of the entire nation.
